Norms re-education to boost parent involvement in alcohol-prevention for incoming college students
Official title: Norms re-education to promote engagement in parent-based interventions: A Type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial
Funded at Loyola Marymount University · NIH-11397033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program is tested that uses parent-focused messaging and personalized feedback to reduce risky drinking by first-year college students, delivered through an easy-to-use app.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola Marymount University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $573,269 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030904-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are parents of incoming college students and their first-year children who may be at risk for risky drinking.
✕Less likely to help
Families without access to the app or those not engaged in parent-based discussions about drinking may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a previously tested Parent Handbook approach and adds personalized normative feedback delivered via a social-media–style app to help parents communicate about drinking with their incoming-student child. The study aims to optimize the app content and engagement strategies so no monetary incentives are needed to motivate participation. Researchers will test how well the enhanced parent-focused approach works in real-world settings, with careful attention to how parents use the app and how it affects student drinking. The goal is a scalable method that can be implemented by colleges without costly incentives or extensive resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce risky drinking among first-year students by supporting parents to engage effectively without needing incentives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot work showed promise for a technology-enhanced PBI, with stronger effects when parents engaged with the app.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Labrie, Joseph William — Loyola Marymount University
- Study coordinator: Labrie, Joseph William
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.